PN 2nd Qtr 08

Ministries

PrayerNotes—A Newsletter for People of Prayer
April/May/June 2008
Go Back
Dearest Friend and Pray-er,
Things in the body of Christ are about to change!
I have it on good authority: we have entered a new season. Long-awaited doors are about to open. New spiritual assignments are being given and the Holy Spirit is talking to us about them.
He is giving us orders from our heavenly headquarters, preparing us to take new territory for the kingdom of God. He is equipping us for what’s ahead much like a military leader equips the soldiers under his command.
During a recent trip to Israel, I had the opportunity to see such a commander in action. An Israeli Defense Force (IDF) unit gathered near a place where my friends and I had stopped for lunch and as we watched, their commander stepped up to give directions and instructions. He didn’t just tell them what to do, he spoke words of strength and exhortation to them. He was almost like a preacher — commanding, instructing, inspiring, and encouraging.
The soldiers listened with rapt attention. They knew they could not move forward without those commands from their commander. And they were eager to be on the move!
Oh, what a picture that is of God’s praying army right now! We are eager to be on the move, and the Holy Spirit Himself is on the scene giving us His commands. We must be attentive and listen to them with care — even write down the things He quickens to us in this hour — because we will soon need to use His words as a sword on the battlefield of prayer.
A Call to Arms
“But Lynne,” someone might ask, “exactly what is the Holy Spirit saying these days?”
He is saying many things! He is speaking unique and specific instructions to each of us as individual believers. He is also giving us general words of direction and exhortation that apply to all of us. A few months ago, for example, He spoke through prophecy to a group of people who had gathered from many parts of the world to pray together, and said:
“… In the natural realm, there is a call to arms. In the realm of military activity, squadrons and different sections are called together and equipped for certain assignments. They are equipped for certain duties and only that squadron or only that section is equipped for that assignment. So it is in the realm of God. There is now a call to arms. And now the Holy Spirit is by His work equipping you. The Holy Spirit by His work is giving out assignments.
“Yes, there is intentional prayer. There is a prayer from the beloved Word of God, precious in His sight. But then there are also gatherings of those equipped to take on new responsibilities. There is an army of pray-ers being dispersed across the land and across the world. They will work together as a network in the spirit realm. Because it stretches across the world, there is no way the Devil can coral it and contain it. But it is dispersed here and there. And where he would try to put out or take away an assignment from one here, there would be somewhere else another person who would pray, and the Lord Himself would take up that one and bring him back stronger than ever to his place.
“This is a divine working. It is not a plan by mere men. For there is a superiority of God’s system that is unfolding before you and you shall see it more and more. For I am wanting to display it even before your eyes. For many … do not even know what they are a part of.”
Let the Wind Blow
Whenever I think of this vast worldwide army of pray-ers and how vital it is in the plan of God, I remember what that great praying man, Brother Phil Halverson, taught us years ago. He said it is through our prayers that the Holy Spirit opens doors for the work of Jesus. That’s why, in the tenth chapter of John, Jesus said:
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber. But He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out … I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). (John 10:1-4, 9 Amp.)
According to those verses, not only is Jesus the door, He is the man for whom the Watchman must open the door. Who is that Watchman? None other than the Holy Spirit! He is the one who always goes ahead of the Lord, preparing His way.
When we yield ourselves in prayer to the Watchman, we become co-laborers with Him. His supernatural energy is released through us and it goes to work opening doors for Jesus. Because that energy is spiritual, we cannot see it with our eyes. Like the wind, it’s an invisible force. But just as we can see the leaves shaking and the flag whipping from the flagpole when the wind blows, the effects of prayer eventually become visible to all.
For example, when we pray for those in government authority (as we must right now, especially in view of the coming elections), we don’t see any immediate evidence that our prayers are making “tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16 Amp.). We simply sit at home alone or with others in a group lifting our voice to God, praying the Word, and praying in tongues for righteous leadership for our nation. At such times, it might appear to the natural eye that nothing is happening. But, in truth, a powerful, spiritual wind is beginning to blow. The energy of the Holy Spirit is being released to call forth God’s chosen leaders, to keep demonic powers away from them, to bring angels to their aid.
If we will persevere in prayer and not “turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up)” as Jesus said in Luke 18:1, our prayers will produce a profound, visible effect on our government. They will turn the political situation in this nation for the good of the Church.
What’s the Formula?
The apostle Paul had such confidence in the supernatural wind of prayer that even imprisonment in Rome couldn’t discourage him. He knew that as his friends in Philippi yielded to the Holy Spirit on his behalf, so much spiritual energy would be released that no prison on earth could hold him. No matter how deep and dark the dungeon, Paul was certain the power of prayer would set him free and open the door for him to preach the Gospel again.
… I am well assured and indeed know that through your prayers and a bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) this will turn out for my preservation (for the spiritual health and welfare of my own soul),” he wrote from his prison cell, “and avail toward the saving work of the Gospel (Philippians 1:19 Amp.).
Paul wasn’t the only early Christian who knew that was true. The entire Church knew it back then. They’d seen what happened when Herod imprisoned Peter after killing the apostle James. Herod locked Peter up so tightly there was no possibility of escape. He chained him to two soldiers, surrounded him with 16 armed guards, and imprisoned him behind an iron gate.
He fully intended to kill Peter just like he’d killed James, but the believers in the early church were determined not to let it happen. They were tired of losing ministry gifts! They needed Peter and they knew it. So “fervent prayer for him was persistently made to God by the church” (Acts 12:5 Amp.).
What kinds of prayers do you suppose those believers prayed? What’s the formula for praying your pastor out of prison?
There isn’t one! Those believers did the same thing we have to do. They depended on the Holy Spirit. I have no doubt they prayed a great deal in other tongues and allowed Him, in His great wisdom, to pray out the perfect escape route for Peter. They yielded their spirits and their voices to the Holy Spirit and released the supply of supernatural energy necessary to set him free.
We know the prayer meeting was fervent that night because the Bible says so. Much spiritual power was made available. Yet even so, the believers couldn’t see it working with their natural eyes. They couldn’t see the wind that was beginning to blow.
Across town in the prison, however, that wind was shaking things up. It woke Peter from a sound sleep to see a most amazing sight:
… Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him (Acts 12:7-10 Amp.).
You Don’t Have to Be a Spiritual Giant
I love that story. It shows that no matter how locked up things are, the energy of the Holy Spirit can open them up. No matter how bad or impossible a situation may seem to be, the working of the Holy Spirit can turn it around.
The gate that imprisoned Peter was iron — the hardest material available in that day. It was a barrier of the strongest type, a force designed to hold everything back. But the prayers of the early church caused it to open “of its own accord!”
That goes to show you just how supernatural prayer actually is. It’s a miraculous thing! It is “… able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20 kjv).
The group that prayed for Peter proved it. They didn’t think Peter was going to be released supernaturally by an angel from the prison that night. They didn’t expect him to show up at their door and join the prayer meeting. Such a thing was more than they could imagine. That’s why Rhoda got so excited when she found Peter standing at the front door that she left him standing there while she ran to tell everybody he had arrived. It’s also the reason the people at the prayer meeting responded to her praise report by saying, “You are crazy!” (verse 15 Amp.).
Isn’t it comforting to know we don’t have to be spiritual giants, we don’t have to be all-knowing and all-wise to pray effective prayers? All we have to do is yield in faith to the Holy Spirit! If we’ll do that, He can take our prayers and work wonders with them. He can change our lives, our families, and our churches. He can transform our cities and our nations from spiritual deserts into fields white with harvest.
Seize the Moment
“But I’ve prayed for some things for years,” you might say, “and I haven’t seen results yet. Sometimes, I’m tempted to give up.”
I know it. We all face that temptation at times. But if we persevere, as Jesus told us to, the Holy Spirit will strengthen us and help us to keep standing in faith until we see the full manifestation of God’s promises. Like the IDF commander I saw in Israel that day, He will exhort and instruct us. He will speak to us and show us things that will re-energize our faith.
He did that for me not long ago. I was walking through my house, not really doing anything spiritual, when I sensed His presence surrounding me. Suddenly, visions began to flash across my spirit. I saw seasons appear and disappear before me like photographs. I saw springtime sparkling with freshness. I saw fall with all the bright colored leaves drifting from the trees to the ground. I saw the heavy snow of winter.
Then the scenes stopped and I heard the Lord say to my heart, “You have entered a new season.”
I knew exactly what that meant for me. It meant it was time for me to do spiritually what I do naturally when seasons change: dress differently. Put the clothes from the previous season away and bring out those I’ll need in the new one. Get ready for the change. As I thought about that, the Lord spoke to me again. “This new season is a season of increase, favor, and supernatural blessing. Seize the moment. Seize the opportunity.”
Those words didn’t just apply to me. They are for the whole body of Christ. I am certain of it because as soon as I heard them, I began to have one vision after another in my spirit. I saw people who had been working the same job for years and years. In their spirit, they had seen promotions coming to them and they were wondering why those promotions never materialized. I saw that in this season of increase and divine favor, a working of the Holy Spirit would come upon them and supernaturally things would begin to turn around. The promotions would come!
I saw businessmen who knew they were divinely ordained to make certain connections and suddenly, the doors were opened and the contacts were made. I saw people who had stood on the Word for healing, both spiritual and emotional, and somehow they’d been locked up and unable to receive it. I saw those people delivered in an instant in this season of increase and blessing.
Praying friend, I have a rhema word from God: we are in a new season! And the Holy Spirit has given us the marching orders that will enable us to step into it. He said to me, “Walk into this season of increase and supernatural blessing and favor through the door of faith and receiving!”
This is not the time to look back at previous seasons when it seemed the things we were believing for were slow in coming. This is the time to put those old mindsets away and start declaring by faith, “I’m in a new season! I’m in a season of blessing, and favor, and divine increase! I’m never going back to that old season of bondage again!”
Spend time in the Word and stir up fresh faith in God’s promises. Go back to the things God has shown you in your heart about your future and your destiny and start declaring them. Be like Abraham who called himself the Father of Nations. Call those things that be not as though they were.
Then yield to the Holy Spirit and pray in other tongues. Work with the Watchman and open new doors for Jesus to work both in your own life and in the lives of others. Release the energy of the Holy Spirit and watch the gates of iron — gates that have long been barred against you — swing open of their own accord!
Until I write again, stay in faith and keep receiving. And be sure to remember that…

You are loved by, Lynne

2008 Itinerary
May 2 & 3
Living Word North, Brainerd, MN
Pastors Russell and Cyndi Kalenberg
Women’s Meeting
Speaker: Pastor Lynne Hammond
For more information, call 218-829-0612.
June 29 & 30
Family Worship Center, Lakeland, FL
Pastor Reggie and Bea Scarborough
Speakers: Pastors Mac and Lynne Hammond
For more information, call 863-687-8827.
August 24 & 25
Agape Faith Church,  Clemmons, NC
Pastors J.B. & Susan Whitfield
Speaker: Pastor Lynne Hammond
For more information, visit www.agapefaith.com or call 336-766-9188.
September 8-10
Living Word Christian Center, Brooklyn Park, MN
Pastors Mac and Lynne Hammond
Prayer School (Paid registrations only – watch for more details)
Speaker: Pastor Lynne Hammond
For more information, call 763-315-7000.
October 6-10
Revival Ministries International, Tampa, FL
Pastors Rodney and Adonica Howard-Browne
Ministers’ Conference
Speakers: Pastors Mac & Lynne Hammond and others
For more information, call 813-971-9999.
October 23-27
Annual Prayer Conference in the Ozarks
Hilton/Branson Convention Center — Branson, MO
Speakers: Dr. Billye Brim, Lynne Hammond, and others.
For more information, call Billye Brim Ministries at 417-336-4877.
For hotel reservations, call 417-336-5400

Testimonies

Testimonies from around the world
I want to thank you all for your continued and consistent ministry in prayer and in sending these [GPAN] prayer summaries out. Some days I read and just say “that was good” but some days they come as a Word of the Lord to me. Today’s did just that. Thank you.
J.E.
Brisbane, Australia

Lynne Hammond,
I want to sincerely thank you and everyone who is working with you for the encouragement you offer. I have been discovering the importance of prayer and it’s encouraging to know that there is a source other than the Bible where I can learn more. Thanks for following the will of God and for branching out to touch so many lives!
C.M.

Dear Pastor Lynne,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your devotional, Whispers From the Secret Place. It ministers to me time and again. Yesterday, I was fighting hurt feelings of rejection from a Christian friend. This morning, I read your comments about showing love by meeting needs of others by paying attention to the details. I heard Jesus saying how hurt He is when He is rejected. It came to me by the precious Holy Spirit that rejection by others is so temporary, but rejection of Jesus and His love walk has eternal consequences. I really do love to collaborate with the Holy Spirit to find that little something a person needs and fulfill it, and I am so very thankful that you reminded me how utterly important this is to Jesus and the Father! An act of kindness, no matter how small, far overtakes and actually smothers those nasty darts from the enemy! I would hope that you are bringing forth another devotional soon!
Your sister in His love,
J.U.

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School of Prayer Ad

September 8–10, 2008
School of Prayer
With Lynne Hammond

Learn principles of prayer through precept and example in an intense three-day workshop with Lynne Hammond. From the beginning of her ministry, Lynne has desired to impart the intricacies of corporate and Spirit-led prayer to the Church. This September, Lynne will share her testimony of how God and prayer mentors in her life trained her to pray. She will provide direction and further insight regarding:
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9:30 a.m.* Registration 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Includes a break for lunch
*You are welcome to attend Morning Prayer in the chapel from 8:30–9:30 a.m. each weekday.
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Today’s Europe—A Guide for Believers by John W. Rood
Identifying the Revived Roman Empire of the Last Days — Part 1
Never before has interest in the end times been as prevalent as during these last years. Many individuals are conducting a personal study of the Bible in order to learn of the final events in the history of the world that lead to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The popular Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, which depicts possible end time scenarios, has been a catalyst for many to study the subject of Bible eschatology. This timely and widespread interest continues to propel the series, first published in 1995, to the all-time best seller lists.
I would like to relate some of my ministry background and interest in eschatology. My ministry has been based in Europe since 1985 and concentrated on the French-speaking nations. In 1990 my wife, Liliane, and I founded Eternal Word Christian Center in Brussels, Belgium. We continue to pastor the church until today. I have 20 years of firsthand experience with the European Union headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. For several years, I have conducted End Times Bible Seminars that concentrate on the role of the last days Revived Roman Empire seen in the books of Daniel and Revelation. I examine and monitor its relationship to today’s European Union. For nearly three years, I wrote weekly on European Union affairs. For this series of articles, the subject will be narrowed to the identity of the Revived Roman Empire.
Teaching on the subject of the European Union and its relation to the Revived Roman Empire is a growing church-wide trend. This subject is now adapted into mainstream church teaching, rather than being available exclusively in conferences for specialists.
Personally Discover End Time Truths in the Bible
Your personal study of the Bible is the key to an effective understanding of prophecy. It is important that you see these truths in the Bible for yourself.
The many interpretations of end time Bible prophecy tend to leave believers wondering what to believe. They then perceive themselves in one of two camps; the “prophecy guys,” or the “rest of us.” Let us remember that the Bible is a book of prophecy! Nearly one third of the Bible has prophetic themes. We are, therefore, all “prophecy people” since we are Word-based. Why not study the Scriptures your self concerning the end times and with the help of the Holy Spirit, come to a deeper understanding of what you believe?
Know what you believe because you can see it for yourself in the Word of God, not simply because you heard someone say it was true. That is of utmost importance. It is more important than solely expressing an interest in end times. Your understanding will enable you to teach others from the Bible as well. You will have many opportunities to share Bible truths with interested people.
Through a prayerful, consistent, and diligent study of the Scriptures, you will receive understanding of the Revived Roman Empire and events unfolding before us today in Europe and beyond.
With this in mind, let us continue with a biblical approach to the identity of the Revived Roman Empire. There is no shortage of discussion on this matter, but we can not incorporate hearsay nor quote the many teachers who use this term without first establishing its Bible context in our understanding. You must see each Bible subject in the Bible for yourself!
The Revived Roman Empire, an Important End Time Sign
While natural disasters ravage and increase in epic proportions, all types of fears have escalated in recent years. The earth’s population, now grown to 6.5 billion people, is wondering more and more, What is happening to this planet? Is this the beginning of the end?
According to the Bible, one could rather say, instead of the “beginning of the end” that this is the “end of the beginning.” Consider God’s big picture for eternity; it is unfolding before us. His plan for the believer’s future is bright and encompasses the believer’s position and purpose “in the ages to come” (Ephesians 2:7). You have much more future in front of you than you have the past behind you!
The Bible points us to one of the largest events concerning “What is happening now?” and it is the rise of the Revived Roman Empire from the remains of the Ancient Roman Empire. This is a prominent sign of the coming close of this age and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Israel became a nation again in 1948, a certain sign of prophetic significance. There is a marked increase this last century of wars, famine, pestilence, floods, and earthquakes as in the “beginning of sorrows” or “birth pangs” of Matthew chapter 24. It only makes sense that the end time empire to be ruled eventually by the Antichrist would also be concurrent in some form.
We will examine the prophecies concerning the last days in Daniel chapters 2 and 7. If we can identify the Revived Roman Empire of Daniel chapter 2, then we can conclude that this is the final world empire before the Lord Jesus returns. If we can identify the Revived Roman Empire of Daniel chapter 7, then we can conclude that this empire is the eventual power base of the Antichrist. The evidence is overwhelming that today’s European Union, now consisting of 27 member nations and growing, is the beginning of this Revived Roman Empire.
World empires take many years to come and go, and it would not be wise to attempt to set precise dates for future prophetic events. The empires identified in the book of Daniel endured a couple of hundred years. But if we can identify the Revived Roman Empire in Daniel, we know for certain that we are in the last of the last days, for this empire is the final empire before Jesus returns.
(to be continued...)

Reverend John Rood can be contacted at
jwhitneyrood@yahoo.com

John and Liliane have served the people of Europe for 22 years. Missionary support for the Roods can be designated “John Rood” and sent to:
Rhema Bible Church Missions
PO Box 50126
Tulsa, OK 74150